Features

The diffusion of light allows biologists to study tissue at various depths below the surface of a person’s skin. One novel development is the construction of a biological laser from a single cell. more>>

We have learned how to construct ordered index-of-refraction-modulated structures that allow us to control the propagation of light. Initially, researchers were simply interested in fabrication; now they are exploring limitations in the structures. more>>

Pulses

A member of the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences student chapter recently conducted an outreach program to initiate learning and collaborative relationships with scientists, engineers and high school students in Chile. more>>

Unlike the telephone, the television did not have one clear inventor. It was shaped
over decades by the minds of researchers as well as science fiction writers. When
it was first conceived and developed, a device that could instantaneously transmit
images was referred to as a “telephote.” more>>

Coded-aperture spectrometers have enabled high-speed applications that
were once considered impractical with traditional slit devices. This article
traces the history of this type of spectroscopy, from the earliest analog
forms to the latest technology. more>>

John Adolph Sanderson, OSA’s president in 1967, is
remembered for his work on infrared radiation with
the U.S. military, his dedication to improving optics
education and his great contributions to the Society. more>>